Light-transmissive wall structure



Oct. 27, 1959 F. K. JOHNSSEN I LiGHT-TRANSMISSIVE WALL STRUCTURE FiledJan. 23, 1958 Inventor. FREDRICEEJOH N558! United States Patent2,909,916 LIGHT-TRANSMISSIVE WALL STRUCTURE Friedrich Karl Johnssen,Essen, Germany Application January 23, 1958, Serial No. 710,791 Claimspriority, application Germany February 1, 1957 2 Claims. (CI. 7242) Mypresent invention relates to wall structures of the type in which panelsof transparent or translucent (generally vitreous) material are joinedtogether with the aid of a rigid supporting framework.

The use of a simple framework of metal, reinforced concrete or the like,firmly bonded to the panels oflight-transmissive material, is oftenundesirable since internal as well as external causes (e.g. shrinkage ofthe concrete, settling of the foundation) may give rise to considerablestresses between panels and framework or in the panels themselves,frequently resulting in the impairment of both. These drawbacks are onlypartially eliminated through the interposition between the panels andthe framework, either before or during assembly, of an elasticallydeformable resinous layer capable of forming an adhesive bond with theglass; major deformative stresses, such as those resulting from theshifting of ground in regions of unstable topography (e.g. rock slides)or in the vicinity of industrial blasting sites and the like, cannot besufficiently absorbed by this type of construction.

My invention has for its principal object the provision of an improvedwall structure of the character referred to in which no objectionabletransfer of stresses between framework and panels can occur.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a wallstructure in which a vitreous construction element is securely held in aframework through positive engagement of interlocking formations yetwith sufficient play so that expansions, contractions and even somegeometrical deformations of the framework will not be communicated tothe vitreous element.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of asupporting grid, e.g. of metallic rods, in whose polygonal (e.g. square)openings respective construction elements or panels of vitreous materialare held with the aid of elastically deformable connector strips securedto the framework. Advantageously, the connector strips are profiled tomate with complementary formations on the glass panels in a dovetailpattern. For easier assembly it is convenient in such cases to divideeach connector strip into two halves which are sub sequently cementedtogether by a suitable adhesive. It is also desirable that each stripextend substantially over the entire length of a side of an associatedglass panel and that interstices remaining between adjoining strips andpanels be filled with an elastic putty or cement. Moreover, each stripmay support two glass panels on opposite sides of the framework.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front-elevational View of the wall structure according tothe invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View, on a larger scale, taken on theline IIII of Fig. 1.

The light-transmissive wall structure shown in the drawing comprises asupporting grid 1 formed from in- 2,909,916 Patented Oct. 27, 1959 icetersecting vertical and horizontal rods 2 and 2a. The square gridaperatures formed by these rods are covered by square glass panels 3which are held along their edges by vertical connector strips 4 andhorizontal connector strips 4a of synthetic plastic material. Each ofthe connector strips 4 and 4a, respectively traversed in longitudinaldirection by a rod 2 or 2a, is divided into two halves 4, 4" cementedtogether by a suitable ad hesive 9. The strip halves 4 and 4" are formedwith respective projections 7', 7" which together constitute twodovetail-shaped tenons extending on opposite sides of the grid 1. Thesetenons mate with complementary flange portions 5 on the panels 3,adjoining flanges defining a trapezoidal groove 6 receiving the tenons7', 7". The rods 2 and 2a are lodged in semicircular grooves 8', 8",formed on the meeting surfaces of strip sections 4' and 4", which mayalso be filled with adhesive 9; the adhesive 9 may likewise occupy thevoid between adjoining panels 3.

The horizontal rods 2a with their connector strips 411 have been shownsupported and maintained at their proper relative distance byspaced-apart columns 10 which may, if desired, be of transparent ortranslucent resinous material. The strips 4 and 4a may also be oftransparent or translucent material and may be colored to match theglass panels 3 or to provide a distinctive ornamental effect. The rods 2and 2a may be of metal, e.g. iron, or of a suitably hard plasticmaterial.

It will be apparent that the subdivision of strips 4 and 4a into halves4 and 4" enables a particularly easy assembly of these strips with thepanels 3 and with the rods 2, 2a. It is, however, also possible to makethese strips in a single piece, as by forming them with a hardened innercore clad in a more flexible layer defining the tenons 7', 7".Naturally, the columns 10 may be dispensed with if other means areprovided to fix the rods 2 and 2a (e.g. at their junctions) in theirdesired relative position.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention,various modifications thereof will readily be apparent to personsskilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed in the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall structure comprising a plurality of intersecting rods forminga grid, a plurality of elongated con nector strips of elasticallydeformable material carried on each of said rods, each of said connectorstrips consisting of two halves formed with aligned longitudinalrecesses and adhesive means bonding said halves together with therespective rod imbedded in said recesses, each connector strip extendingbetween a pair of successive junctions of said rods and being providedon opposite sides with longitudinally extending, dovetail-shaped tenons,and a plurality of glass panels covering the apertures of said grid onopposite sides of said rods, each of said panels being provided withinwardly facing peripheral flanges interlockingly engaged by the tenonsof respective connector strips.

2. A wall structure according to claim 1 wherein said halves of eachconnector strip meet in a plane bisecting the tenons of the strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent. UNITED STATES PATENTS1,542,564 Liese June 16, 1925 2,141,000 l-lohl Dec. 20, 1938 2,173,213Maul Sept. 19, 1939 2,244,489 Downes June 3, 1941 2,303,344 Knudsen Dec.1, 1942

